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Match Preview: Upbeat Lowe relishing Reds challenge

A sharp week on the training ground and having a virtually fully-fit squad at his disposal have left Glory Head Coach Kenny Lowe with some tough selection decisions to make ahead of Saturday’s Round 5 clash with Adelaide United.

While long-term absentees Marc Warren, Joel Chianese and Daniel Stynes unfortunately remain sidelined, every other member of the squad is fit.

And with competition for places well and truly hotting up, Lowe admitted that he has been left with plenty to ponder.

“We’ve had a really good week on the training ground,” he said, “with the lads performing well and putting their hands up for selection.

“Obviously we had Mitch [Nichols] come back from suspension last week, our injury-replacement players are getting right up there in terms of their fitness levels now and in general, we’ve got a lot more game time into people’s legs.

“So I’ve got a real headache in terms of picking the squad for the Adelaide game, but it’s not the kind of headache I’ll be complaining about!”

In terms of the opposition, meanwhile, Lowe is expecting the Reds to provide a stern test as they look to end a three-game winless run against Glory which included a 5-0 hammering at Coopers Stadium in February.

“With a new coach in charge, they’ll pose a different challenge,” he said, “but from what we’ve seen of them so far this season, they are pretty compact and well organised.

“They also have some serious attacking threats that we’ll need to be aware of and I’m sure it’ll be another good game to watch.

“It’ll be great to be back home at nib Stadium and I know the lads are really looking forward to it.

“The atmosphere at the Mariners game a couple of weeks ago was fantastic and hopefully it’ll be the same again on Saturday night.”

Glory took seven points from the South Australians last season, but the Reds’ overall record at nib Stadium is a decent won, featuring five wins and five draws from 16 visits.

And Marco Kurz’s side have already tasted victory on their travels this season, downing Brisbane Roar 2-1 in Round Two courtesy of two goals in the last two minutes from Ryan Kitto and Johan Absalonsen.

Lowe’s men, however, have only been beaten once in their last nine home games and only failed to score at home once during the whole of last season.